A look back at 2013
By: Capt. Olin Jensen
Well, what a year it has been. With a full guide schedule on Lake Amistad this year I reduced the amount of tourneys fished. I mainly concentrated on State, Regional and local derbies and one B.A.S.S. Northern Open on Lake Erie. I�m currently getting ready to fish a Bud Light Championship here at Amistad (if the lake is open due to GOV shutdown). First I would like to talk about the guide�s perspective.
​Lake Amistad due to record low water levels has fished a lot tougher this year. With the drastic water fluctuations, Hydrilla and other aquatic vegetation did not have an opportunity to grow. The old saying �find the grass you find the bass� rings true. In the mid 2000�s it was not uncommon to have 100 fish days with an 8-10lb kicker. This year we averaged 15-30 fish days and a 5lber being good. Don�t get me wrong there are still some huge hawgs in this lake. What does all this mean as a guide? Down size and grind it out. This is where Blackwater �Toray� fishing line has come into play for me and my clients. Line is crucial and most the time over looked. Lake Amistad is a super clear deep lake and there�s not a better line to use than Toray�s �high Grade� Fluorocarbon. Majority of all my TX rigged baits are fished on 14lb High Grade, it�s virtually transparent in the water and sensitivity is top notch. With the water level so low we have a lot of brush and hard wood visible, which we have been doing well flipping. When my flippin rod is in my hand it�s spooled with Toray�s Solaroam Super Hard Strong 20lb. The Super Hard Strong is very abrasion resistant so I can pull those toads over tree branches and extremely sensitive to feel the most subtle bites.
​Now let�s talk a little about the BASS Northern Open on Lake Erie. What a BLAST! Those small jaws are flat out awesome. I�ve caught plenty of big Florida strain bass but you hook up with a 4-5lb smallie, hard to beat. Amistad and Lake Belton have smallmouth but they are considered river fish, long and skinny. Erie has football size fish that fight like a freight train. Drop shot accounted for 95% of my fish over the week. I feel very confident with a drop shot in my hand and a lot has to do with line I use. I spool my spinning reel with 30lb BAWO Braid with a 7lb �High Grade� 6-8ft leader. The bite was extremely light. I had fish pick up my bait and sit there, if I didn�t have that set up no way I would feel those fish. High Grade is so sensitive I could feel the slightest thump. The key was rock; you had to be around rock piles. Once you found rock you were going to get bit. I can check Erie off my Bucket list. I�m pretty blessed I fished Amistad, Falcon and Erie in one year. I need to pinch myself.
​I look forward to fishing the BASS Central Division and BASS Nation this upcoming year. Whether it�s a fun day on the water with my family, a guide trip or a major tournament, my reels are spooled with �Toray� fishing line. Please take the time to take a kid fishing and good luck to you all. Tight lines!!